For us, research is understood broadly and includes not only academic research in partnership with universities and educational institutions but also with independent researchers and artists. It includes three broad kinds of research:

Research with sailing vessels.

This is what we traditionally think of as ocean or marine research, using vessels at sea to collect samples and data or to launch and recover drones, probes, buoys. We owe an intellectual debt to the pioneering work of the Ocean Research Project of Annapolis who have demonstrated that doing high quality ocean research under sail is not only feasible but cost effective and environmentally friendly.

The use of sailing vessels for this kind of research is not without tradeoffs. Though it is possible to travel long distances to where the work is to take place with minimal burning of fossil fuels, doing so is more strongly weather-dependent than with motor vessels. Clearly, the quantity of equipment that can be transported is also limited by the size of vessel. Nevertheless, we are convinced that there is a role for sail in ocean and marine research.

We do not, at present, operate such vessels commercially and are mainly concerned with developing the tools, techniques and know-how to do this kind of work.

Research about sailing vessels.

We also think about the vessels themselves, as they must. In the 1960s, yachts began to be built from fibreglass. These vessels are nigh indestructible and, though now ageing, difficult and expensive to recycle. It is better to find ways of keeping them in service (perhaps even in support of #1 above). There are several obvious avenues of investigation.

Electric propulsion. This is not a new idea but advances in battery technology have recently made it feasible. It is perfectly possible to fit a small sailing vessel with lithium batteries for entering and leaving harbours. It is even possible to fit a generator built around an internal combustion engine to go longer distances under engine at optimal efficiency. Doing so safely, where failures of battery components are managed and prevented from cascading is still a major challenge. With the exception of MGN550 which sets a bar straightforward to achieve on large vessels but difficult on small ones, there is a general lack of guidance and best practice around this topic, how to design such systems and how to understand the transitive risks of cascading failures.

Navigation. Older instruments are analog and tactile. They have attractive ergonomics but lack features for recording and sophisticated analysis of data. Newer instruments have the inverse characteristics, good for data processing but poor, predominantly screen-based ergonomics. We imagine modern sensors with more varied modes of interaction, programmable LED installations combining lighting and situational awareness, and physical buttons, not pictures of buttons on a screen.

Insulation, heating, and ventilation. The marine environment is difficult, a constant battle against moisture and corrosion with a limited energy budget. Designing for this scenario, trying to keep humans comfortable in this small life-support system, can yield results that can be repurposed on land where the constraints are far easier. Efficient ventilation and heat exchange, for example, can be retrofitted onto land-based housing in cool, damp enviroments.

Legal aspects. Commercial activities in the maritime industry are highly regulated, and these regulations have evolved over a very long time as practices change and common problems are solved. The use of small sailing vessels in research is a corner case of the rules, particularly when they are only used in this capacity part of the time and the rest of the time for pleasure or as a domicile. Of necessity, we explore how to do this safely and provide policy advice.

Clearly this list is not exhaustive and there is a rich vein of topics to pursue here.

Research on sailing vessels.

It is well-established that, whatever the topic at hand, bringing researchers together in small groups, in a pleasant environment, away from the pressures and demands of daily life, is good for creativity and collaboration. This effect is magnified at sea whether at a remote anchorage or offshore (in good weather), perhaps because the environment is so alien to creatures like humans that have evolved on land. The perspective shift can be profound and provoke rich insights. It stands to reason that it is a good idea to bring together mathematicians, or linguists, or social scientists, or artists, or writers aboard a sailing yacht for an afternoon, a few days, or longer to stimulate unexpected results.

More prosaically but very important is for theoretical research that purports to treat ocean and marine topics. An experiential connection to the topic at hand is crucial to keep abstract work of this kind grounded (if you will forgive the turn of phrase). Studying the effects of currents on plankton in a sea loch, for example, is well and good when done numerically but familiarity with the dynamics of the tides and behaviour of the water in that location is very helpful for developing the intuition required for effective modelling. Equally, access to locals who know the long-term qualities of the system is extremely valuable.

We do not, at present, operate any commercial service for this but can facilitate such activities on a non-commercial basis.